Gate lock



F. L. REMMELE June 6, 1950 GATE LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l D11/enter FiledMarch 7, 1947 v Fred I .Remmele and June 6, 195o F. L. REMMELE 2,510,520

GATE LOCK Filed March '7, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r. /2 W I7 I r11/enterFred L. Remmele` WWW Patented June 6, 1950 Y UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICE 3 Claims.

'This invention relates to locks for gates or doors, and the primaryobject thereof is to provide a lock which will allow a'horizontallyswinging gate or door to be swung .from either direction or side, to aclosed position and completely vlocked in the closed position.

, Another object of the invention is to provide ya lock which willpermit the `automatic engagement of the gate or door therewith 'whenswung to a closed position inline with a gate post or door jamb, towhich the lock is secured, from either side, and to provide meansincluding a handle beneath the lock for releasing the latter from eitherside of the gate, Iso'that the gate or door may be free to 'open ineither direction.

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a gate lock havinga pair .of independently operating latches, which gives a progressivelocking action with one latch operating in advance of the other from oneside, and the latter latch operating in advanceoi 'the .first latchfrom'the opposite side, but .both `adapted to be simultaneously releasedor disengaged, to permit the door or gate'to be swung to an openposition at either side.

A still further object of theinvention is to'provide a gate lockcomprising a `few simple parts capable of economical vproduction andassembly and easy installation with but a single fastening means forattaching the same to agate post or the like.

Other objects and advantages `reside inthe details of constructionAandoperation as morefully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, whereinlikenumerals rrefer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View through a gate lock constructed inaccordance with the invention, and showing the same applied to a gate ordoor, with the 'cooperating stationary part comprising a fence post cradoor frame or jamb land free end of a hinge door swinging gate.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken Von the line 2-'2 of Figurel. Y frFigure 3 is afragmentary vertical sectional view showing the latches.disengaged, 4as distinguished from the engaged position shown in Figurel.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fork employed in connection with thelock, and

Figure 5 yis a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1, Awiththe .fork in locking and released positions, in ysolid and .dottedlinesJ respectively. Y

' "Referring to the Adrawings v'in detail, in which like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,It designates the free end of a swinging orhinged gate or door designedto cooperate with a fence post or door jamb II of a door :frame to spanor close the 'opening for the gate or door. The lock `comprises avertical channel member I2 'having shallow side anges I3, while thecentral 'bight or connecting portion of the channel forms a backing orVbacking plate and has an upper slot 'I4 elongated vertically and acircularhole vI5 spaced below the same. An actuating bar IS is slidablymounted at the open side of the channel, lthe opposite side of which isdisposed against .the stationaly post l1, and saidbar is provided with avertically elongated slot II slightly shorter .than the slot I'Il andaligned or infregistry therewith but with the lower end of the slot ilextending down below the bottom of the slot I4 slightly when thevlockisfin position to hold the door `or gate closed.' The bar rIt isfurther provided with an elongated vertical slot IB in alignment withVthe hole I5 and receiving a spacer sleeve I9 having an outer annular`flange `2li and vbearing against the innerface of the bar I2. A lagscrew or other suitable fastening means 2| is extended through thespacerI9 with its head engaging against the outer end or flange 2Q thereof andextending at its shank through the holeI5 4ofthe bar vI2 into the post II Vasa convenient means of fastening the lockte the post andslidablysmounting-the bar I-S to theehannel. Obviously, instead'of agatepost, the 'device may be secured to the jamb of a door. The vertically-slidin-g bar I6 is adapted to be actuated by a handle 22 having itsshank riveted or otherwise secured to VVVthe'bar at an aperture therein,vas indicated at 23 and projecting inwardly horizontally at right anglestothe bar between the saine and the free edge of the .gate so as to bereadily grasped --or lsliding the bar vertically to disengage thelatches ortheflock as will be later Vdescribed so that the vgate may beopened :from either side.

Secured to the edges of the flanges I3 over the slots I4 and I1 is asupporting bracket 24 of right angular formation having parallel sidegusscts .25 connecting the side yedges of avertical .wall

.2E and a horizontal .tcp wall 21. The bracket is ,secured to the edgesof the flanges I3 as by welding, as indicated at 28 so as to lbe rigidwith the backing and guide channel I2, and is further profvided with a,vertical slot29 in alignment with the slots I4 and II. A pair of spaced.angular llatches 3D "are pivotedrat 3| on a pin mounted transverselythrough the side gussets 25 of the bracket 24 at horizontally alignedapertures therein and retained in position at one end thereof by thehead engaging the outer face of one side gusset and at the other end bysuitable means, such as a cotter pin 32. The horizontal portions of thelatches are offset toward each other and extend into the slots I4, I1and 29 and the vertical inner portions thereof extend upwardly throughopenings 33 in the top wall 21 to project above the same. The bottomedges of the horizontal arm of the latches are recessed as indicated at34 to take the ends 35 of a pair of spaced coils of a coil spring 36,the intermediate portion of which extends down from the inner portionsof the coils encircling the pin 3| to form a loop or arm 31 which bearsagainst the inner face of the wall 26 below the slot 29. In this way,the latches are held upwardly at their vertical engaging ends projectingthrough and above the top wall 21 at the openings 33.

A fork 38 is pivoted on a vertical axis for horizontal swinging movementon the wall 21 at the top of the bracket 24 through the medium of apivot pin or rivet 39 extending through vertically aligned circularholes through the wall 21 and web portion 49 of the fork 38, with aninterposed washer or wear plate 4I between one head of the pin 39 at itslower end, and the bottom surface of the top wall 21 of the bracket 24.The fork 38 has a surrounding outer flange 42 which serves to stiftenthe metallic sheet from which the same is formed, with the flangeupstanding or extending upwardy at right angles to the web portion orplate 49 and terminating adjacent the convex ends 43 of the sides ortines of the fork. The inner edge of the fork is formed with a dependingflange 44 produced on a compound curve circular at the bight or innerportion of the bifurcation as at 45 and each side formed on an ogeecurve extending inwardly at the inner edges of the sides or legs asindicated at 46 to form a constricted or narrower entrance portionmerging into the rounded ends 43 around which the depending flange 44extends to the extremities of the upstanding ilange 42. The web or plateportion 4G of the fork 38 is wider at the center than at the sides, andis provided with a pair of spaced parallel slots 41 each adapted toreceive a latch 30 at its projecting upper end, as well as through theslots 33 in the top plate or wall 21 of the bracket 24 and in such amanner that when the Y fork is centralized in locking position, thelatches 30 are spaced apart a greater distance from the outer edges ofthe elongated openings or slots 41 than the inner edges thereof, so thatthe latches operate independently and give a progressive locking actionby reason of the spacing of the slots 33 and 41 to engage thereinsuccessively or progressively one ahead of the other while beingsimultaneously disengaged therefrom by the upward movement of the bar I6by grasping the handle 22 and sliding the bar upwardly so that thebottom edge of the slot I1 in the bar will simultaneously disengage thelatches 30 by moving the outer ends or arms thereof upwardly and theinner upwardly exteding arms or ends downwardly to disengage from theslots of the fork 38. In order to permit this, the latches 30 are formedor bent to extend inwardly at the outer side of the pivot 3| at rightangles to the spaced parallel inner portions to a point substantially incontact with each other at their outer ends in parallel relation and tothe inner portions, as shown more particularly in Figure of the drawingsand to also decrease the thickness where they engage the slots I4, I1and 29.

In the operation of the lock, with the door in engaged position, asshown in Figures 1 and 5 when closed, in order to open the gate or doorat either side, it is only necessary to grip the handle 22 and slide thebar I6 upwardly to actuate the latches to released position by movingthe bottom edges of the slot I1 against the outwardly extending arms ofthe latches so as to swing the engaging ends thereof downwardly on thepivot 3l against the tension of the spring 31, when the fork may freelymove to either side as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 of the drawingsto release the gate or door. The actuating bar I6 will automaticallyreturn to its lowered position assisted by the spring 31 which normallytends to bias or force the latches through the slots or openings 33 and41 in the bracket wall 21. When the fork is released and swung to eitherside, the spring 31 will also force the latches against the underside ofthe web or plate portion 43 of the fork 33 to exert a braking effectagainst the bottom surface of the fork when it is in open position, thusholding it in said position. However, when the gate or door is slammedclosed from either side, and in either direction, the fork will beengaged thereby and swung to a centralized position while traveling overthe upper ends of the latches, to permit the latter to successivelyengage and protrude through the slots 41 successively in the lockingaction. This progressive action of the latches is a very desirablefeature, and serves to hold the fork when one latch is engaged with aslot thereof, until the fork is engaged by the other latch, when it isrrnly held at the inner edges of the slots against moving in eitherdirection on the vertical axis or pivot 39 on which it swingshorizontally. The location of the slots 41 relative to the latches 3!when the fork is swung to either side, is clearly shown in dotted linesin Figure 5 of the drawings, from which it will be seen that thedistance between the same and the distance between the latches aredifferent. In other words, regardless of the direction in which the gateor door is swung in closing, one latch will engage its slot 41 beforethe gate or door is entirely closed and before the other latch engagesits slot 41, thereby making it impossible for the gate or door to freelyreopen if it should not be quite fully closed, said other latch engagingits slot 41 when the gate or door is fully closed to lock it in thefully closed position. '.The latches when protruded through the slots inthe fork in locked position, are held in said position by the spring 31,which also exerts a braking effect against the bottom surface of thefork when it is in open position, so as to hold the gate or door againstclosing once released, and the fork in receiving position to be engagedby the free end of the gate or door when swung to a closed position heldby the spring in readiness to receive the door. The latches are heldengaged and in locked position by the spring, but may be readily raisedby the handle. 'Ihe spacer I9 in the form of a flanged sleeve asshownand described, slidably retains the actuating bai` I6 in position byreason oi the inner end of the spacer bearing against the web portion ofthe channel I2 and slidably receiving the actuating bar I6 at the slot I8, thus retaining the actuating bar in position for sliding movementvertically against the channel or backing plate I2 between the flangesI3, in addition to serving as well, as aV mounting ,and securing meansfor the entire assembly to the gate post or door jamb by means of theleg screw or other fastening means 2| and permitting of the use of asingle lag screw for such purpose. By reason of the latches being soarranged that they will engage the slots as described so that one willengage its slot in the fork before the other latch engages its slot, or4before the gate or door is entirely closed, it is impossible for thegate or door to open again or reopen until the latch or latches havebeen released, thereby producing an additional safety factor.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A gate or door lock including a vertical channel member adapted to besecured to a fence post or door jamb, a bracket having a vertical wallsecured to and bridging the side ilanges of said channel member and ahorizontal wall having an opening, a horizontally swingable gate or doorengaging fork pivoted on said horizontal Wall and having a slotregistrable with said opening when the gate or door is closed, a latchpivoted on the bracket and having an end portion movable upwardly intothe registered opening and slot to hold the fork in position to lock thedoor closed, a spring acting to swing the latch so as to move said endthereof into the registered opening and slot, and a manually operablereleasing bar ior the'latch slidably mounted in said channel member andoperatively connected to the other end of said latch.

2. A gate or door lock including a vertical channel member adapted to besecured to a fence post or door jamb, a bracket having a vertical wallsecured to and bridging the side iianges of said channel member and ahorizontal wall having spaced openings, a horizontally swingable gate ordoor engaging fork pivoted on said horizontal wall and having spacedslots registrable with said openings when the gate or door issubstantially closed, a pair of independently movable latches pivoted onthe bracket and having end portions movable upwardly into the registeredopenings and slots to hold the fork in position to lock the doorsubstantially closed, a spring acting to swing the latches so as to movesaid ends thereof into the registered openings and slots, and a manuallyoperable releasing bar for the latches slidably mounted in said channelmember and operatively connected to the other endsof said latches, saidslots of the fork being arranged so that one latch will engage its slotbefore the gate or door is entirely closed and so that the other latchwill engage its slot when the door is entirely closed.

3. A gate or door lock comprising a vertical channel member adapted tobe secured to a fence post or door jamb, a bracket having a verticalwall secured to and bridging the side flanges of said channel membernear the top of the latter and having a projecting horizontal wallprovided with spaced openings, said bracket further including spacedgussets connecting said vertical and horizontal Walls, said VerticalWall having a vertical elongated slot, a pair of independently movableangular latches Y pivotally mounted between and supported by saidgussets, a gate or door engaging fork pivoted intermediate its ends uponsaid horizontal wall for horizontal swinging movement and having spacedslots registrable with said spaced openings when the gate or door issubstantially closed, said latches including upwardly projectingportions movable upwardly into and downwardly out of said spaced slotsto respectively lock the fork in position to hold the gate or doorclosed and to release the fork and permit opening of the gate or door,spring means acting to swing the latches to move the upwardly projectingportions thereof upwardly, and a manually operable releasing bar for thelatches slidably mounted in said channel member and having an openingnear its upper end, said latches including portions projecting throughthe slot in the vertical wall of the bracket and into the opening of theoperating bar, said slots oi' the fork being arranged so that when thegate or door is swung towards closed position in either direction, onelatch will engage in one of said slots before the gate or door isentirely closed and the other latch will engage in the other slot whenthe door is entirely closed.

FRED L. REMMELE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,112,715 Miller Oct. 6, 19141,141,080 Swank May 25, 1915 1,227,863 Winnega May 29, 191'7 1,253,822Henkle Jan. 15, 1918 1,280,653 Brady Oct. 8, 1918

